Summers in New York City are usually hot, humid, and oppressive. It's position on the northeastern coast of North America make it open to a subtropic-like climate during the summer months. The past few days, however, have been very pleasant. Ever since a powerful set of storms came through on Tuesday, temperatures and humidity have dropped giving us a feeling for those non-rainy British summers. I have loved every minute of it.
Of course, this weather, as well as the much cooler temperatures felt across much of the Midwest - as well as the crazy weather in the West - have come as a result of the jet stream bringing down cooler air from the Arctic Circle (some in the media hailed this as the return of the polar vortex, but it is not that). The weather is great right now, and as wonderful as it is, this isn't normal. Temperatures and air in the Arctic Circle usually remains in the polar region during the summer months. Back in winter, the chilly blasts from the Arctic were also quite unusual. Scientific research is helping us understand why this is unusual, though not completely abnormal.
It turns out that the amount of sea ice in the Arctic is a huge driver of our weather patterns. Less ice in the region reduces the strength of winds, causing the jet stream to become wavier - thus allowing cooler air from the north to make its way down here. This concept is the same during both the cooler months and the warmer months. In fact, the British were warned that their winters could become much colder and more like the European continent if sea ice continued to diminish on a larger scale during the polar summer. Again, the jet stream that currently prevents colder air from pervading the British Isles most of the time, is weakening to the point that is becoming vulnerable to Arctic blasts.
We know that climate change is affecting the polar regions of more quickly and more intensely than other regions of the planet. We like to think that the what goes on in the unpopulated hinterlands of our poles is far removed from us. However, our chaotic weather is closely linked to how unstable these areas are becoming. This is where climate change really begins to make itself manifest. We may be having great weather now, but it is a silent reminder that things are no longer the same up at the North Pole.
Of course, this weather, as well as the much cooler temperatures felt across much of the Midwest - as well as the crazy weather in the West - have come as a result of the jet stream bringing down cooler air from the Arctic Circle (some in the media hailed this as the return of the polar vortex, but it is not that). The weather is great right now, and as wonderful as it is, this isn't normal. Temperatures and air in the Arctic Circle usually remains in the polar region during the summer months. Back in winter, the chilly blasts from the Arctic were also quite unusual. Scientific research is helping us understand why this is unusual, though not completely abnormal.
It turns out that the amount of sea ice in the Arctic is a huge driver of our weather patterns. Less ice in the region reduces the strength of winds, causing the jet stream to become wavier - thus allowing cooler air from the north to make its way down here. This concept is the same during both the cooler months and the warmer months. In fact, the British were warned that their winters could become much colder and more like the European continent if sea ice continued to diminish on a larger scale during the polar summer. Again, the jet stream that currently prevents colder air from pervading the British Isles most of the time, is weakening to the point that is becoming vulnerable to Arctic blasts.
We know that climate change is affecting the polar regions of more quickly and more intensely than other regions of the planet. We like to think that the what goes on in the unpopulated hinterlands of our poles is far removed from us. However, our chaotic weather is closely linked to how unstable these areas are becoming. This is where climate change really begins to make itself manifest. We may be having great weather now, but it is a silent reminder that things are no longer the same up at the North Pole.
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